County Court: Doncaster’s Nathan Bradnock sentenced to jail term after Templestowe home invasion

A former Doncaster military contractor faces being booted back to New Zealand after he led a frightening home invasion over the failed payment of a BMX.

Nathan Bradnock, 47 was sentenced in the County Court on August 24.

A New Zealand dad and former military contractor who committed a home invasion over a failed payment on a BMX faces deportation once he finishes his prison sentence.

Nathan Bradnock, of Doncaster, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in the County Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to home invasion following a debt recovery skirmish in 2021.

The court heard about 2.30am on May 7, Bradnock and another went to the Templestowe home of his mate’s girlfriend.

Bradnock was not disguised or armed, however, his associate brandished a hunting knife and taser, and wore a black scarf with skulls.

The 47-year-old Kiwi was looking for his mate ‘Zane’ after weeks of attempting to collect an $800 payment for his BMX he agreed to sell.

The couple were sitting on the couch when they heard a loud knock on the door and a male voice with a Kiwi accent.

A glass panel at the front door was broken before the two men entered the lounge room, with

Zane escaping out the back door.

The armed intruder clicked the taser repeatedly and yelled “where is the stuff” and “where’s Zane”.

He then took the woman’s laptop and mobile phone before clipping her on the hip with a taser.

The two men asked where Zane’s stuff was and the woman said his belongings were in his bag, which the men took before they fled.

The identity of the other man has not been confirmed and no one else has been charged.

Judge Damian Murphy said Bradnock was the instigator of the offence and held a high moral culpability for the co-offender’s conduct.

“Individuals within our community are not entitled to take the law into their own hands and forcibly invade a private home in company to settle personal grievances.” Judge Murphy said.

“Your conduct was absolutely outrageous and has had a significant impact on the innocent complainant,”

A victim impact statement spoke of an inability to recover from the “traumatic event” that left the woman “emotionally scared” and “mentally shattered”.

The court heard that Bradnock moved to Australia in 2004 after separating from his first wife and the mother of his two adult daughters who still live in New Zealand.

He remarried in May 2023 but is not an Australian citizen and could face deportation upon his release.

His work history included periods in primary industries plastering as well as time spent in Iraq and Afghanistan as a private military contractor.

A psychological report noted the possibility that incarceration could have a severe impact on him and trigger traumatic memories from his childhood and time in conflict zones.

Judge Murphy sentenced him to five years’ jail with a minimum of three years and four months.

He had already served 74 days of pre-sentence detention.